by Steve Huey

Following the hyper-aggressive Battle Hymns, The Suicide Machines is a surprisingly toned-down effort, often scrapping the band's previous third-wave ska style in favor of a catchy, mainstream punk-pop/alt-rock sound. While there are a few ska and hardcore-influenced tracks reminiscent of the band's earlier days, their manic energy has largely been replaced by more detailed arrangements; some of the harder-rocking tracks are reined in by chiming, clean-toned guitars in the background, for example, and a few cuts even use string sections. There are a couple of moments that sound a little generic, but overall, the record's move toward greater accessibility undeniably works, however disappointed some fans might be with the fact that most of the Suicide Machines' rough edges have been smoothed out.